Hotel Okura: "The rating system ensures that only FreeFlexers with the right qualities apply."

Patrick, Assistant Manager of the banqueting department, has been using Temper since 2018. It was the first department at Okura, after which other departments quickly followed. According to Patrick, the most important differences compared to a temporary employment agency are the costs, but also the quality and motivation of the FreeFlexers. As self-appointed true Temper ambassadors, it was time to ask Patrick how he has approached the deployment of FreeFlexers in recent years.

50 years Hotel Okura

Hotel Okura is a Japanese corporate chain with about 40 hotels in Asia and 1 in Europe: Okura Amsterdam. The hotel is located on the border of the Pijp and Rivierenbuurt areas and for a long time it was the second tallest building in Amsterdam. This year, Hotel Okura Amsterdam celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Fact about the tower:
The colours of the illuminated roof of Hotel Okura predict the weather for tomorrow. If the roof is green, it will rain. If the light is white, it will be cloudy and if the light is blue, it will be sunny.

Banqueting - from business conventions to weddings

Patrick has been working at Hotel Okura for 20 years in the banqueting department. Together with the banqueting manager, he is responsible for 21 halls in which various events take place. Patrick: "The maximum capacity of those rooms is about 2500 people. We have a small permanent team of normally 12 people, but because of covid there are now 7. We ensure that operationally everything is arranged for large and small (business) meetings and events. So we make sure that there are enough waiters, that the schedules are right and that during an event everyone has their tasks. Examples of events are business conferences, fashion shows or weddings. In fact, we do everything that can be done in a hall."

Flexible workforce for peaks and troughs

Initially, 3 forms of flexible workforce management were used within the department. Part of it was flexible staff employed by Okura itself. Patrick: "There were never many, because depending on the events, there are often huge peaks, but also huge troughs. We also used temporary employment agencies for another part, and another part through Temper."

In the course of the past corona period, this distribution has changed. "Recently, we have even arranged our flexible deployment 100% through Temper. This is also due to the fact that temporary employment agencies are running out of steam during the lockdowns. It works well this way, but I myself prefer a balance of 60 / 40. I want to spread the chances and not be dependent on one party or platform."  

FreeFlexers through the Temper platform

Although they were sceptical at first, Patrick and his team started using Temper in 2018. "We were like: seeing is believing. Getting the schedules set and done in our department is quite time-consuming and stressful. Because you really have to get it right. This caused the scepticism at first, because Temper does not arrange the freelancers itself, so the freelancers have to find the shifts and want to sign up. Nevertheless, we started in 2018, also out of curiosity. And that immediately went like clockwork, so now we even arrange the flexible workforce 100% through Temper."

Differences from employment agencies

For Patrick, the cost and quality are the main advantages of Temper compared to temporary employment agencies.

Patrick: "The most important difference: the costs. At a temporary employment agency, I am stuck with a rate that is a few euros per hour higher than what I spend on average per hour at Temper. I set an hourly rate myself, and depending on how high the need is and how last-minute I place the shift, I increase the rate if there are not enough applicants for the shift."

According to Patrick, the rating system ensures the high quality and motivation of most FreeFlexers. "Because the FreeFlexers work for themselves through Temper, and are rated after a shift, you notice that the quality is also higher than at temporary employment agencies. They are much more motivated. And because of the rating system, where you are rated on your skills after the shift, only FreeFlexers who actually possess the skills apply. Because, of course, you don't go and do something you're not good at."

Did you know that FreeFlexers also rate the client? So the rating system works both ways.

Of all the filled shifts, 60% come from the flexpool

Hotel Okura quickly built up a flexpool of some 50 FreeFlexers. Patrick: "Before corona, we had a large flexpool that filled up to 60% of our shifts. There are still people from that time at flexpool now, and we expect to expand it again soon. The bigger your flexpool, the bigger your spread and the easier it is to get your shifts filled throughout the year."

Would you like to use our platform FreeFlexers for your restaurant, pub or hotel? Check out the possibilities at temper.works/bedrijven

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